Board handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Board handling apparatus and method for arranging boards such as plasterboard, plywood and composition board into sets wherein boards are held by lifters and then teamed with another board or boards.

United States Patent Northsea 1541 BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: George A. Northsea, St. Petersburg,

Fla.

[73] Assignee: National Gypsum Company, Buffalo,N.Y.

[22] Filed: May6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 140,974

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 140,974, July 8, 1968,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..198/32, 198/34, 198/35, 144/242 [51] Int. Cl ..B65g 47/29 [58] Field of Search ..144/242; 198/31 AB, 32, 34, 198/35 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,403,673 7/1946 Mead ..l98/34 3,289,811 12/1966 Kelley..... ..19s/3s 3,074,530 l/1963 Rosenleaf ..l98/35 X 1,980,411 11/1934 Kimball et a1. ..19s/32 3,019,882 2/1962 Pearson ..19s/34 2,221,845 11/1940 Paterson ..19s/34 x Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunlr Assistant Examiner-W. Scott Carson Attorney-Stefan M. Stein [5 7] ABSTRACT Board handling apparatus and method for arranging boards such as plasterboard, plywood and composition board into sets wherein boards are held by lifters and then teamed with another board or boards.

10 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTED nor 3 1 1912 SHEET U 0F 4 MR. Wm wv W 4 A M i 5 w M 0% M 1 BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS This invention relates to board handling apparatus and method, wherein boards, such as plasterboard, plywood, composition board and the like are arranged in sets. In the usual. situation these sets may be passed to a booker where they are booked in face to face relationship and then fastened together usually by a strip of tape over the ends. Usually such boards are made in twos, threes or fours. Occasionally, there is a board of unacceptable quality. It must be shunted to discard, which leaves an odd board. Also where boards are made in threes, there is an odd board with every set manufactured. The apparatus and method of the invention may be used to pair the odd board with another to fit the trade practice of packing and shipping pairs of boards.

In the making and shipment of board, particularly plasterboard, it is customary to manufacture such board as a continuous length board and after the plaster has set but is still somewhat wet, cut the board into lengths, and pass the cut lengths through a drier. After the cut lengths are dried, they pass via a roll conveyor to a booker where it is customary practice to arrange the boards, in pairs, with the finished side or face inwardly. A strip of tape is then adhered to the cut edges of both boards to pack them in pairs. Thereafter, they are handled and shipped fiat, usually on a pallet structure formed or strips of imperfect board.

In packing the boards in pairs, it should be evident to the reader, that occasionally an odd board is involved, either because one of the boards presented to the booker is imperfect and must be discarded, leaving the odd board, or because the boards are manufactured in threes. I I

The situation involving imperfect boards becomes more complex in situations where the boards are manufactured in threes or in fours (usually 32-inch wide and 24-inch wide) and only one or two of these are imperfect.

In the past, discard of imperfect boards was accomplished manually. There was no other way to pair the boards for feeding to the booker. The size, especially the length and the weight, made this task extremely cumbersome.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel board booking apparatus and method.

Another object is to provide apparatus and method of the above character wherein odd boards are paired with another board of the following set as they proceed from the drying oven.

Still another object is to provide apparatus and method of the above character wherein said odd boards are paired as they are presented to the booker so that storage presents no problem.

A further object is to provide apparatus and method of the above character wherein unacceptable boards may be discarded by machine operation just before the booker. 1

A still further object is to provide apparatus and method of the above character wherein even missing boards from the drier present no problem, and the odd ones may still be booked.

Another object is to provide apparatus and method usable with manufacture of boards in pairs, threes or fours, so that customary 48-inch, 32-inch and 24-inch board may all be handled on the same apparatus but with only slight adjustment.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The apparatus and method of this invention has particular application to board making and handling, such as in plasterboard, plywood, composition board and the like. It comprises a system with appropriate conveyors and lifters wherein an oddboard is retained on said lifters until paired with either another odd board or with the lead board from the next pair of boards being fed to the apparatus. The apparatus is also useful for pairing boards fed in threes or in fours to it. In such instance, in the case of threes, the oddboard is paired with the lead board of the next set of threes, by the action of said conveyors and lifters, and booked. In the case of fours, the lead two boards are fed to the booker while the following two boards are retained on the lifters. Then they are conveyed to the booker for booking in a face to face paired assembly. And in the three or four board feed arrangement, odd boards are also paired by the apparatus with a board from the next set fed to said apparatus.

In essence, a continual storage and supply system is provided, in any combination, to enable continuous booking of boards in pairs.

The paired boards are then booked, that is placed in a face to face relationship, and the edges taped.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which are adapted to effect such steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the apparatus of this invention, shown when installed with a transport conveyor from kiln and with a booker.

FIG. 2 is'a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed side view showing the operating mechanism for holding operation. 9

FIGS. 4 and 5 are other side views showing the arrangement for interconnecting the several holding tables.

FIG. 6 is an end view taken along lines 6-6 of FIGS. 3 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the board stop.

FIGS. 8A to D are schematic views showing the handling of an odd board when boards in pairs (generally of 48-inch width) are being handled.

FIGS. 9A to C are schematic views showing the handling when boards are in threes, generally of 32-inch width.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the electric an pneumatic circuiting of the apparatus.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, and 2, the apparatus of this invention consists of a take-off stand 10 at right angles to the customary gypsum board transport conveyor 12. Generally the take-off stand 10 is located at the terminal end of the transport conveyor 12 but it should be understood that it may be positioned, with several others, along the path of the transport conveyor.

Transport conveyor 12 usually comprises a plurality of parallel endless belts l4 spanned across the top of conveyor 12 around idler rolls l6 aflixed to a common shaft 18 journalled at its ends within journal bearings 20. Bearings 20 are affixed to the edges of transport conveyor 12. A side wall 22, to prevent side slip of the gypsum boards as they are transported, usually in pairs if of 48-inch width, in threes if of 32-inch width, and in fours if of 24-inch width, may be used.

It should be evident that other transport means may be used, such as rolls, skate wheels and the like As the boards pass off the end of the transport conveyor 12, they either come to rest on quality selector table 30 or are shunted to discard, by one or more quality control inspectors stationed along the transport conveyor who actuate a discard electrical control circuit.

Quality selector table 30 comprises an array of parallel disposed cross belts 32, between which are spaced driven discard rolls 34. Discard rolls 34 rotate on shafts 36 journalled at their ends and at their mid point on journal bearings 38. 3

Referring now to the action of the discard rolls 34 and the cross belts 32, the discard electrical control circuit referred to above, when actuated, causes driving of the appropriate discard rolls, and collapse of fall away stops 39 to shunt the unacceptable board in the same direction of travel as in the transport conveyor 12 (see FIG. 1 The acceptable boards are retained on quality selector table 30, by non-rotation of discard rolls, upon which they have been deposited from the transport conveyor 12 and by the cross belts 32, which have been raised slightly.

Cross belts 32 now feed the acceptable boards, with a sidewise motion of the board, to board lifter section 40 of the take-off stand 10. Section 40 includes a plurality of lifter sets wherein each lifter set has a plurality of lifters 42, 44 and 46, described in detail hereinafter. The lifters of each lifter set are interspaced with booker belts 48. As seen in FIGS. 3 to 7, each lifter comprises a top bed plate 50, from which depends bed supports 52.

Each bed support is pivotally secured to a lift arm 54,

which preferably is positioned perpendicular thereto. The far end (with respect to the bed support) of the lift arm 54 is rigidly secured to a jack shaft 56. The jack shaft is rotatable within jack shaft journal bearings 58. Bed raising legs 60 and 62 of lifter 46 and 42 respectively extend downwardly (see FIGS. 3 and 6) from one jack shaft associated with each said lifter and is operatively connected to one end of air operated lifter cylinder 64 and 66 respectively. The other end is secured to a portion of take-off stand 10. A connector link 67 having a pivot at each of its ends connects the bed raising arm of lifters 42 and 46 to follower leg 68 which ties the bed raising arm of lifters 42 and 46 to follower leg 68 which extends downwardly for the other side of lifters 42 and 46.

Lifter 44 merely has two follower legs joined together by a connector link 69.

' Referring now to the lift action of lifter 46, as exemplary, it should be evident from the above description that as lifter cylinder 64 is extended, bed raising leg 60 pivots about jack shaft 56. Connector link 67 causes a parallelogram type action occurs.

Similar. movement of lifter 44 occurs, although it does not have a bed raising leg 60 associated thereto. In

this instance, it effects a lift motion in accord with its' connection 70 to a leg 60 of lifter 46 (see FIG. 5) or leg 68 of lifter 42 (see FIG. 4). I

To aid in stopping the odd board on lifter 46, an automatic pivotable stop plate (see FIG. 6) is operatively connected to the booker end of lifter 46. As seen in FIG. 6, when lifter 46 is in a down position, the angular stop plate 80 is pivoted about pivot 82, out of the path of the board traveling across the lifter. However, when lifter 46 is raised, the fixed length of the lower arm of shaped stop plate actuator 84 causes the stop plate to pivot upwardly. Stop plate actuator 84 is secured to a portion of the conveyor frame 10.

In the usual situation, two streams of 48-inch board, three streams of 32-inch board or four streams of 24- inch board are handled. Depending on the width board being handled, lifter 44 is tied to either lifter 46 or lifter 42. I

48-INCH BOARD For 48-inch board, lifter 44 is tied to lifter 46 via lifter linkage 70 (see FIG. 5).

The sequence of events now with respect to the mechanical handling of the 48-inch boards is illustrated in FIGS. 8A to D.

As two 48-inch boards come out of kiln on the transport conveyor, and if one board is unacceptable in quality, it is rejected. This leaves an odd board (marked 03 in FIG. 8A). The odd board is picked up by the cross belts 32 and transported to lifter section 40 of the take-ofi stand 10. As it enters lifter section 40, lifter cylinder 64 is automatically activated, causing lifters 44 and 46 to come up and hold the odd board above booker belts 48.

As the next two acceptable boards come onto lifter section 40, and as the lead board approaches the board held on lifters 44 and 46, lifters 44 and 46 drop down placing the held odd board on booker belts 48 ahead of the two boards being fed from cross belts 12. As the last board of the group of three comes over the lifters 44 and 46, lifters 44 and 46 raise, holding the last board. The first two boards go into booker arms 92 and they are then booked together in face to face relationship.

This cycle repeats asv long as two boards come towards the booker from cross belts 32. When only a single board comes from the cross belts because of a reject or starve feed of boards from kiln, the odd board being held drops down ahead of the advancing odd board and the two go into booker.

If no board is on lifter 46, the two boards from cross belt 32 pass over the lifters 42, 44 and 46, and go directly into booker arms 92.

3 2-INCH BOARD 0n 32-inch board, lifter 44 is tied to lifter 42 (see FIG. 4.) so that they operate in unison and lifter 46 operates alone. The sequence of mechanical operation is illustrated in FIGS. 9A to C.

belt 32 towards booker, the lifters and feed into booker arms 92. Lifter 46 raises and holds board 3A. l

I Then as'the next set of three boards (lB,2B, and 3B) come from cross belts 32, lifter 46 sets the held board (3A) down on the booker belts 48 ahead of the lead to booker arms 92.

As three boards (1A,2A and 3A) come from cross board 1A and 2A go over all board. The held board (3A) and the lead board (1B) go into booker and are booked together. Lifter 46 raises board 28 and lifters 42 and 44 raise up under board 38 holding these boards until boards 3A and 1B are I booked. After boards 3A and 1B are booked, lifters 46 and 42 and 44 lower setting boards 28 and 38 on booker belts 48 which start and take boards 28 and 3B 24-rNcn BOARD On 24-inchboard, lifters 44 and 46 are tied together (as in FIG. 5). When four boards (1,2,3 and 4) come from cross belts 32, board 1 and 2 go over all the lifters and travel toward the booker arms 92. When boards 3 and 4 are over lifters 44 and 46, they raise and hold boards 3 and 4 until boards 1 and 2 are booked. After boards 1 and 2 are booked, lifters 44 and 46 come down, setting boards 3 and 4 on booker feed belts 48 which then take them to booker arms 92 where they are booked.

The electrical and pneumatic circuitry may be of various design.Basically, however, it should include board presence, detection means, such as 'microswitches or capacitors or pneumatic feelers or other presence detection means, in cireuit with the controls for the operation of the cross belts 32, the discard rolls 34, the lifters 42,44 and 46, the booker belts 48, and the booker arms 92. Appropriate circuit selectors for the width board being handled, relays, switches, both instantaneous and time delay, drive mo tors, pneumatic valves and electrical safetychecks are,

ormay be, included.

CIRCUITRY described by reference to specific operation for various width boards;

For 48-inch board, the selector switch SS is set on 48 which puts the normally closed contacts of relay R9 and limit switches LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, LS5, LS7, LS8, LS9, LSll into the circuit.

With two boards on the cross belts 32 and none on the lifters, boards coming from kiln, strike limit switches LS1 and LS2 (FIG. 10) energizing relay R1 which stays energized through R1 and the nonnally closed contact of that branch of the circuit. Relay R1 disconnects up lifter circuit. As the cross belts 32 1 R5 lowers the lifter, setting the transfer the two boards toward booker, booker belt brake relay R8 is energized. This relay holds in through itself and through relay R2 with normally closed con tacts and time delay relay TD4 with normally closed to opencontacts. The booker-belt brake(not shown) is The lead boardsubsequently strikes limit switch LS9 energizing time delay relay TD4. Relay TD4 is timed to position both boards in the center of the booker arms. It also drops out relay R8 stopping the booker belts. With the centered, relay R4 is energized through relays R6,R8 and time delay relay TD4 and limit switch LS1 1,.located at the apex of the booker. Relay R4 starts the booker arms motor (not shown), relay R4 holds in on itself, through limit switch LSll. When the booker cycle completes, limit switch LSll drops out relay R4, stopping the booker. I

With one board on the cross belts 32,and none on the lifters, as in FIG. 8A, relay R1 is not energized because either limit switch LS1 or LS2 have not been tripped. As the cross belts 32 transfer the odd board toward booker, relay R8 is energized through an em:-

iliary contact (not shown) on cross belt. Relay R8 holds TD2 which eventually drops out relay R8 to stop booker belts 48. The odd board is then held on the lifter.

With two boards on the cross lifter, as in FIG. 8B, relay R1 is energized by limit switch LS5 being tripped by the lifter in an up position. As the cross belts 32 transfer the two boards 18 and 2B, the booker and relay R8 are energized. It holds in through relay R8, relay R2 with normally closed contacts, and time delay relay TD4 with normally closed to open contacts. Relay R8 releases the booker belt brake and engages the booker belt clutch. The booker belt 46 carries the boards toward lifters and booker. In so do ing, the lead board 1B of thetwo boards on the cross belt strikes limit switch LS3 energizing relay R5. Relay odd board 08 on the booker belt 48 just ahead of the two boards. Board 0B then strikes limit switch LS7 energizing relay R6. Board 0Bthen strikes limit switch LS8 and time delay relays TDS and TD6 are energized. Time delay relay TDS is timed to close its contacts after board 13 is past limit switch LS3 and while board 2B is on limit switch LS3. Time delay relay TD6 is timed to open relay R7 circuit two to three seconds after time delay relay TD5 is energized. When relay R7 is energized, limit switches LS4,LS3,LS7,LS8 are tripped. Relay R10 is energized through relay R7 and limit switches LS4 and LS3. It energizes lifter 46 up solenoid and time delay. relay TD2. Board 23 is thereby held on lifter 46. The odd board 08 now strikes limit switch LS9 energizing time delay relay TD4. Relay TD4 is timed to position two boards 0B and 1B in the center of booker arms 92. Time delay relay TD4 drops out relay R7, stopping booker belts 48. Relay R4 is now energized through relays R6,R8,TD4 an'dflimit switch LSll located on booker drive. Relay R4 starts booker arms motor. Relay R4 holds in onself through limit switch LSll. When booker cycle completes, limit switch [.811 drops out relay R4, stopping the booker.

belt 32 and one on the With one board on the cross belts 32 and one board on the lifter, relay R1 is energized by limit switch LS being tripped by the lifter in an up position. The cross belts 32 transfer the one board on the cross belt toward the booker and in so doing, energize relay R8. Relay R8 holds in through R8, relay R2 with normally closed to open contacts, and time delay relay TD4. Relay R8 releases the booker belt brake and engages the booker belt clutch to drive the booker belt. The belt carries the one board toward the lifters and the booker. That board strikes limit switch LS3 energizing relay R5. Limit switches LS3, LS4, LS5 are now tripped. Relay R5 lowers the lifter 46, setting the board on the lifter onto the booker belt 48 just ahead of the one board coming from the cross belts 32. When the board from the lifter 46 strikes limit switch LS7, relay R6 is energized. When the board subsequently strikes limit switch LS8, time delay relay TD5 is energized. Relay TD5 is timed to close after the second board is past limit switch LS3. When the board strikes limit switch LS9, it energizes time delay relay TD4. Relay TD4 is timed to position boards in the center of booker. arms 92, then relay TD4 drops out relay R7, stopping the booker belts 48. Relay R4 is energized through relays R6, R8, and time delay relay TD4 and limit switch LS1 1 located on the booker drive. Relay R4 starts the booker arms motor. Relay R4 holds in on self through limit switch LSll. When the booker cycle is completed, limit switch LS1 1 drops out relay R4 stopping the booker.

For 32-inch board, the selector switch is set on 32,

which energizes relay R9 to close the normally open contacts of relay R9 and place them and limit switches LS3,LS4A,LS5,LSA,LS8A, LS9,LS11,LS12,LS13 into the circuit. I

With three boards on cross belts 32, and none on the lifters, the cross belts transfer the three boards toward the booker. In so doing, it energizes relay R8. Relay R8 holds in through itself and relay R1 with normally closed contacts and time delay relay TD4 with normally closed to open contacts. Relay R8 releases the booker belt brake and engages the booker belt clutch.

The booker belt carried the boards towards the lifters and the booker. In so doing, the lead board of the three boards strikes limit switch LS3 energizing relay IE. Relay R5 energizes time delay relay TDl. Relay TD1 lowers lifters 44 and 46 if these lifters were in raised position.

The lead board strikes limit switch LS12, energizing relay R11. Limit switches LS3, LS12 are now tripped. The lead board then strikes limit switches LS4A and LS7A to energize relay R6 and limit switch LS8A to energize relay R7. Relay R7 energizes relay R10 through limit switches LS4A and LS5. Relay R10 raises lifter 46. Raising lifter 46 causes a hold of the third follower board. The lead board then strikes limit switch LS9, energizing time delay relay TD4 which is timed to stop the booker belt 48 when two boards are centered on booker arms 92. Contacts on relay TD4, which are timed to open, drop out relay R8, stopping booker belts 48. Contacts on relay TD4, which are timed to close, energize relay R4. Relay R4 starts booker arms 92, while limit switch LS1 1 stops the booker arms.

With three boards on the cross belts 32 and one on the lifter 46, the cross belts transfer the three boards toward the booker. In so doing, relay R8 is energized.

- Relay R8 holds in through R8 and relay R2 with nor- 8 mally closed contacts and time delay relay TD4 with normally closed to open contacts. Relay R8 releases the booker belt brake and engages the booker belt clutch to drive the booker belt. The belt carries the three boards toward the lifters and the booker. In so doing, the lead board of the three, strikes limit switch LS3, energizing relay R5. At this time, limit switches LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4 and LS5 are tripped. Relay R5 lowers lifter 46 through time delay relay TDl with time to close contacts and sets the one board on the booker belt just ahead of the three boards coming from the cross belt 32. The board strikes limit switch LS12 and relay R11 is thereby energized. The board then strikes limit switches LS4A and LS7A which energize relay R6. When the board finally strikes limit switch LS8A, relay R7 is energized, which in turn energizes relay R10. This relay R10 energizes the solenoid for lifter 46, as well as relay R2. Relay R2 energizes the solenoid for lifters 44 and 42 through relays R11, R5, and R7 because the last of the three boards is tripping limit switch LS12. Lifter 46 again raises and holds the third board, while lifters 44 and 42 raise and hold the fourth board, while tripping limit switch LS13. The lead board now strikes limit switch LS9 energizing time delay relay TD4, with time to open and time to close contacts. The former eventually drop out relay R8 while the latter eventually energize relay R4. Relay R4 starts the booker arms 92. Limit switch LSll stops the booker arms and also energizes the solenoids for moving lifters .46 44 and 42 down through relay R11 and limit switch LS13. When the lifters are down, time delay relay TD3 is energized through relay R11 and limit switch LS 13. Time delay relay TD3 with closed to open'contacts energizes relay R8 which starts booker belt 48. As the.

lead board strikes limit switch LS9, time delay relay TD4 is energized. Relay TD4s time to open contacts stop the booker belt, and its time to close contacts, energizes relay R4. Relay R4 starts the booker arms,

and limit switch LSll stops the bookerarms when booking is accomplished.

For 24-inch board, selector switch SS is set on 32. This energizes relay R9 to close the normally open contacts of Relay R9 and place them and limit switches LS3, LS4A, LS5, LS6, LS7A, LS8A, LS9, LS1 l, LS12, LS13 into the circuit.

- With four boards on cross belts and none on the lifters, the cross belts 32 transfer the four boards toward the booker. Relay R8 is thereby energized. It holds in through itself and relay R2 with normally closed contacts, and time delay relay TD4 with normally closed to open contacts. Relay R8 acts to release the booker belt brake and engage the brake belt clutch to drive the booker belt. The belt carries the boards towards the lifters and the booker. As the lead board of the four strikes the limit switch LS3, relay R5 is energized which energizes time delay relay TDl. 'IDl lowers the lifters 46 and 44, which are linked together, if these lifters are in a raised position. The lead board then strikes limit switch LS12 to energize relay R11, limits switch LS4A,

contacts of relay TD4 drop out relay R8 and its timed to close contacts energize relay R4. Relay R4 starts the bookerwhile the limit switch LSll stops the booker after the first two boards are booked. As it stops the booker, limit switch LSll acts to lower lifters 46 and 44 down through the action of limit switch L813 and relay R11. When the lifters 46 and 44 are down, relay TD3 is energized through relay R11 and limit switch L813. Time delay relay TD3, with timed to close and timed to open contacts, energizes relay R8 which again starts the booker belt. The lead board of the third and fourth boards strikes limit switch LS9, time delay relay TD4 is again energized. The timed to open contacts of relay TD4 stop the booker belt, and the timed to close contacts, energize relay R4. Relay R4 again starts the booker, and the limit switch LSll stops the booker after the second two boards are booked.

For other combinations involving 24-inch board, similar energization of the elements of the circuitry as with 48-inch and 32-inchboard are involved. So, these will not be described in detail for it is believed within the skill of the electrical technician to arrange and place in circuit the electrical elements in proper order.

Although the lifter section has been described in conjunction with a booker, it should be realized that the other further board handling apparatus may be used in place of the booker.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the construction set forth without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described:

What is claimed is:

1. A board handling apparatus for arranging boards in sets comprising a first board transport means, a board takeoff conveyor operatively connected to said board transport means, a horizontally disposed board lifter section arranged in communicating relation with said board takeoff conveyor, said board lifter section comprising a plurality of lifter sets each including an equal plurality of corresponding lifters, at least one of said plurality of lifters within each set selectively interconnected to at least one other adjacently located lifter within the same lifter set by interconnecting means, said corresponding lifters horizontally fixed relative to one another and conveyor means arranged in operative relation to said plurality of lifters, lift means mounted on said apparatus, control means operatively connected to said lifter sets to selectively lift said interconnected lifters in unison in a substantially vertical direction relative to said conveyor means upon actuation of said control means, and a second board handling means immediately adjacent said lifter section.

2. A board handling apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each lifter is arranged in adjacent cooperative relation to one another and comprising a substantially horizontally disposed bed plate selectively positionable in a I vertical direction relative to said conveyor means at least one bed support fixedly attached-to each of said bed plates and pivotally secured to said apparatus.

3. A board handling apparatus as in claim 1 wherein saidv control means includes presence detection means operatively connected to said lift means such that actuation of said control means causes vertical movement of predetermined lifters. I t

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each set includes a plurality of lifters longitudinally arranged in a substantially linear relation to one another, at least two predetermined lifters, depending upon the width of boards beinghandled, of said plurality of lifters being interconnected to one another such that preselected boards are temporarily removed from said conveyor means upon activation of said control means.

5. A board handling apparatus as in claim 1 wherein R each lifter set includes at least three lifters each longitudinally arranged in a substantially linear relation to one another, the middle one of said three lifters being interconnected to a predetermined one'of the other two adjacent lifters dependent upon the width of said boards being handled so as to be vertically. movable with said adjacent interconnected lifter.

6. A board handling apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said further board handling means includes a booker to book boards in pairs; said conveyor means including a plurality of conveyor belts arranged in parallel relation to said lifter sets and extending across said booker, each of said lifters including a horizontally disposed bed plate, bed supports depending from said bed plate and pivotally secured to said apparatus, and at least one of said bed plates including an angular stop plate disposed across the board dispensing end of said plate wherein said stop plate is pivotally mounted to the under structure of said one bed plate.

7. A board handling apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said board takeoff conveyor operates to remove boards substantially perpendicular to said board transport means, and includes a board discard means, comprising driven discard conveyors for driving boards to be discarded in the same direction as the direction of the board transport means, cross conveyors arranged in interspaced relation with said discard conveyor for removing said boards in a direction perpendicular to the discard conveyors.

8. A board handling apparatus as in claim 6 wherein each bed support is pivotally secured to a lift arm and the corresponding lift arm of each bed plate being secured to a common jack shaft, and means to rotate said jack shaft whereby said bed plates are vertically raised to lift boards thereon above said parallel disposed conveyors.

9. A board handling apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said means to rotate said jack shaft comprises a pneumatic piston pivotally secured to a bed raising leg secured to said lift arm.

10. A board handling apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said means to rotate said jack shaft comprises only one piston pivotally secured to one bed raising leg with a link extending from said bed raising leg to a follower leg arranged to cooperate with the other end of said bed plate. 

1. A board handling apparatus for arranging boards in sets comprising a first board transport means, a board takeoff conveyor operatively connected to said board transport means, a horizontally disposed board lifter section arranged in communicating relation with said board takeoff conveyor, said board lifter section comprising a plurality of lifter sets each including an equal plurality of corresponding lifters, at least one of said plurality of lifters within each set selectively interconnected to at least one other adjacently located lifter within the same lifter set by interconnecting means, said corresponding lifters horizontally fixed relative to one another and conveyor means arranged in operative relation to said plurality of lifters, lift means mounted on said apparatus, control means operatively connected to said lifter sets to selectively lift said interconnected lifters in unison in a substantially vertical direction relative to said conveyor means upon actuation of said control means, and a second board handling means immediately adjacent said lifter section.
 2. A board handling apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each lifter is arranged in adjacent cooperative relation to one another and comprising a substantially horizontally disposed bed plate selectively positionable in a vertical direction relative to said conveyor means at least one bed support fixedly attached to each of said bed plates and pivotally secured to said apparatus.
 3. A board handling apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said control means includes presence detection means operatively connected to said lift means such that actuation of said control means causes vertical movement of predetermined lifters.
 4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each set includes a plurality of lifters longitudinally arranged in a substantially linear relation to one another, at least two predetermined lifters, depending upon the width of boards being handled, of said plurality of lifters being interconnected to one another such that preselected boards are temporarily removed from said conveyor means upon activation of said control means.
 5. A board handling apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each lifter set includes at least three lifters each longitudinally arranged in a substantially linear relation to one another, the middle one of said three lifters being interconnected to a predetermined one of the other two adjacent lifters dependent upon the width of said boards being handled so as to be vertically movable with said adjacent interconnected lifter.
 6. A board handling apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said further board handling means includes a booker to book boards in pairs; said conveyor means including a plurality of conveyor belts arranged in parallel relation to said lifter sets and extending across said booker, each of said lifters including a horizontally disposed bed plate, bed supports depending from said bed plate and pivotally secured to said apparatus, and at least one of said bed plates including an angular stop plate disposed across the board dispensing end of said plate wherein said stop plate is pivotally mounted to the under structure of said one bed plate.
 7. A board handling apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said board takeoff conveyor operates to remove boards substantially perpendicular to said board transport means, and includes a board discard means, comprising driven discard conveyors for driving boards to be discarded in the same direction as the direction of the board transport means, cross conveyors arranged in interspaced relation with said discard conveyor for removing said boards in a direction perpendicular to the discard conveyors.
 8. A board handling apparatus as in claim 6 wherein each bed support is pivotally secured to a lift arm and the corresponding lift arm of each bed plate being secured to a common jack shaft, and means to rotate said jack shaft whereby said bed plates are vertically raised to lift boards thereon above said parallel disposed conveyors.
 9. A board handling apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said means to rotate said jack shaft comprises a pneumatic piston pivotally secured to a bed raising leg secured to said lift arm.
 10. A board handling apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said means to rotate said jack shaft comprises only one piston pivotally secured to one bed raising leg with a link extending from said bed raising leg to a follower leg arranged to cooperate with the other end of said bed plate. 